I honestly don't have much to say after watching the Women's Final, over just as it began...
For those lucky enough to be able to stay up for the 3:30am match of #1 Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco got to see what may possibly already be the best match of the year, and also now the longest match EVER in Australian Open history!
This match, for those who missed it, went the distance of 5 sets; but more than just 5 sets, THREE of the sets needed tie-breakers. In all the final tally came up: 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 6-7 & 6-4. With both men literally collapsing in exhaustion when the match finally ended, you really felt bad simply because both men surely deserved the win after all they'd put into the match, but alas Nadal came out the winner.
Firstly in the smaller news of the day; Bryan Herta Autosport was officially announced as an Indy Lights team with American Daniel Herrington as it's driver. we'll say it again, we'll be rooting for Herta to do well in anything he does, and we're glad to see him back as a part of IndyCar racing.
There's also a bit of rumor from a sentence in Robin Miller's most recent article that Davey Hamilton is planning on starting an Indy Lights team as well as trying to run in the Indy 500 again. If Davey should do this (Indy Lights part) it would be great and right up there with Herta. It should come as an easy task as Davey and his dad already run many teams in many leagues. Mrs. Wedge will most assuredly love any chance to cheer for her fellow hometown childhood carpooler's cousin.
Now onto the 2nd non-shocking news of the day. As correctly reported by seemingly few Bobby Rahal confirmed to news sources that Rahal-Letterman Racing does not currently have a sponsor and needs one to go racing in 2009. A lot of people are up in arms wondering how Bobby Rahal & David Letterman can't come up with the money, assumed they have in Uncle Scrooge's money bin, to get their car on the grid.
What everyone should be wondering instead; is how exactly RLR will ever get back into business as a IndyCar team any year? Their last 4-5 years of ICS team(s) have been funded at least majorly by sponsors connected to their drivers (Paul Dana-EPIC/ethanol, Scott Sharp-Patron, Ryan Hunter-Reay-IZOD, Danica Patrick-Argent). I'm thinking Centrix or Menards was "their" last sponsor, 
and that was rumored to be due to Mernards really liking that young upcoming Vitor guy that was driving for them; whom RLR then dropped, and soon went Menards too. Now we know Letterman and Rahal both have name recognition and business savvy, but as a fan of the team, their track record of landing sponsor does not bode well for their fans.
For Men's Singles tennis for, I don't know... 5-6 years?, it's been Roger Federer vs. the field. The man won 13 Majors and most tournaments he entered, actually having a bet/race with Tiger Woods to see who can get more Majors in their career. Most recently though, Rafael Nadal proved himself to be Federer's equal, besting him a few times and most recently in what some call the best match in the history of tennis at Wimbledon. But what about "the field"
“I thought he played a bit more aggressive with his backhand … Played a bit more flat, so the ball goes through [the court] a little bit more. I really think he improved [his] returns. The second serves he takes more easily. I have the feeling he's improved at the net. He's a better mover. Before, he didn't run a whole lot for drop shots. Today I didn't play 25 dropshots, but I still felt he was running for every ball. He wasn't always doing that. That's also a big key to his game.” 
We're bound to find out as #3 Dinara Safina will meet 2 Serena Wiliams who both won their semifinal matches in quick straight sets.
No what struck my out of nowhere was, during her match with Serena, she botched a great chance to get a ball past Serena. While some would shout, curse, look down in disgust, throw the racket... Dementieva let out what I can really only describe as the most piercing sound/screech I have ever heard in my life uttered by a human being. Seriously you would have thought her leg just snapped in half.
Well, I did it. I finally got an NES emulator and have Tecmo Super Bowl running on my computer. The Furious Wedge wants you to know who is going to win the Super Bowl this weekend. Now, we can sit around and guess all we want, but if you want real answers, why not just have the computer play the game for you? And that's what I did. You're welcome.
Steelers won the flip and elected to return. Del Greco kicked off to Stone who ran it out to the 35. But Brister came in and threw an INT on the very first play. Rosenbach completed a 39-yard pass to Proehl (his only catch of the game) and Johnny Johnson quickly ran in the TD. 7-0 Cardinals.
Brister threw for 218 yards (138 to Williams alone) while Rosenbach managed only 58.
--In quick news; as was rumored a while ago has now been confirmed in that Michael Andretti will be Danica's new race strategist. I find this to be interesting in that Michael is a more aggressive strategist while Danica seems more comfortable playing strategy; the absolute question for me is: what happens should she have a run-in with Marco on the track?
--In Indy Lights & A1GP news Scott Dixon's fellow Kiwi, Johnny Reid, has tested for Team New Zealand's 'Black Beauty' and may be racing for them soon. This comes along with recent talk that Reid has no deal in place yet to be back in Indy Lights. With part of the late A1GP season overlapping the beginning of Indy Lights season, I have to wonder if maybe he'd really be trying both or if this is plan B.
1) Richard Philippe was in fact Genoa's driver which all but tells us that we should fully expect Nelson Philippe in the IndyCar Series either as a driver for Conquest/HVM/Coyne (as they have the open spots), or as a driver for the rumored Team France the Phillipe family intends to start by buying the Roth Racing team. & 2) Richard was no only fast, he set a track record my friends, the Philippe's are no joke; they may have money, but that doesn't mean they don't have talent.
--And lastly and easily one of my most favorite stories in a while. As was being rumored around the news circuit for about a week now, Bryan Herta has officially purchased the Indy Lights equipment of Playa del Racing, to start Bryan Herta Racing. I think all IndyCar fans have the be thrilled; firstly, because finally another veteran alumnus of IndyCars is deciding to stay on as a owner and driving coach rather than going to sports cars or disappearing to a quieter life.
Secondly, I don't know a person out there who doesn't like Bryan Herta; the man volunteered to step out of his ICS ride so AGR could hire Danica only to be later shafted and dropped from the team mid season last year; I think we all want to root for Bryan, and this gives us that opportunity. We know he can be a great teacher as evidenced clearly this last April when Danica finally won in Motegi; Bryan was the very first person she mentioned and thanked.
What makes the story more curious though, is that reportedly all the equipment he bought was delivered to the Vision Racing headquarters in Indianapolis. If you'll remember, Herta was hired on as a driving coach to Ed Carpenter and AJ Foyt IV last season so you know he already has a relationship with the Vision team; and partnering his Indy Lights program with Vision, even if only in name, will allow them all to benefit from the bonus testing allowed to teams who have Indy Lights programs. While no one has reported it in any way, Herta has repeatedly said he's not done with racing, I'm going to be the 
first to say I'm thinking it... Herta in an extra Vision ICS car for May??
He promises that none will be people sitting at a desk discussing statistics and showing highlights."
After a lot of yelling, Djokovic pulled it out. But I must say, I'd rather someone do some more winning before yelling so much. Maybe he's trying to imitate others?
